Pokémon: Chronicles of Freedom

"The important thing is that you endured," Cain said, clapping his hands, signaling Murkrow and Arbok that they could come over to eat.

The first time using that method is the hardest to bear. Once the initial trial is overcome, the subsequent ones become easier.

Arbok, having shed its skin, was nearly healed from its injuries. As for Ursaring, its condition was more pitiful—one eye swollen larger than the other, and it walked with an obvious limp. Yet, when it came time to eat, Ursaring dove into the feast without hesitation.

Cain slowly served himself a bowl of fish soup, watching his Pokémon squabble over the food without intervening. This was his way of strengthening their bond.

After lunch, they resumed the search for point cards.

Finding Vexor wasn't urgent yet. Murkrow hadn't reached its full potential, so Cain wasn't confident enough to defeat him. Still, before the trial ended, a confrontation between them was inevitable since Cain likely held the highest point total of all.

...

In the afternoon, Cain continued searching for point cards.

As he picked one up, both Slowpoke and Murkrow alerted him in unison—someone was watching him from nearby.

"I don't know who's there. Why don't you come out and introduce yourself?" Cain said with a smile.

Whoever was hiding had two options: stay at a safe distance where the Pokémon couldn't detect them, as Aurelia had done, or risk being discovered by Slowpoke and Murkrow by venturing too close.

Then, a figure slowly emerged from the forest, accompanied by a Mightyena the size of a calf.

Seeing the Pokémon, Cain immediately knew who it was.

Alec!

The temporary leader of the loners, probably someone assigned by a Rocket Team commander.

Alec wore a black cloak. As he approached, he lowered his hood, revealing part of his face.

"Alec, so it's you. What brings you here?" Cain asked, suspecting it wasn't a coincidence since such encounters were rarely due to chance.

"Cain," Alec's voice was hoarse, as though he wasn't in good condition.

"I met a woman. She told me you might be here."

"A woman?" Cain immediately thought of Aurelia, whom he had encountered earlier.

It was highly likely it was her, but why would she direct Alec to him?

Alec had always been a pragmatic person, with a firm character and notable abilities. Surviving under Xander's pressure until now spoke to his mental fortitude.

When they were on the Trial Island, the first person Cain wanted to recruit was Alec, but at that time, he lacked the resources, support, and understanding of the trial's true purpose. So, he let it go.

"A woman with orange hair?"

"Yes." Alec nodded slowly.

Cain frowned; something was wrong with Alec.

Though they hadn't spoken much before, Cain remembered Alec's voice well, and it wasn't this hoarse.

Moreover, as Alec drew closer, Cain detected a faint scent of blood.

Not only that, but he also noticed bloodstains on Alec's Mightyena's fur and a few injuries on its hind legs.

But ultimately, this didn't directly concern Cain.

"What do you need?" Cain asked calmly as his Pokémon remained vigilant, ensuring Alec couldn't get too close and launch a surprise attack.

Instead of answering, Alec removed the black cloak covering his entire body.

Seeing Alec without the cloak, Cain's pupils contracted sharply.

Alec's face, once relatively clean-cut, was now covered in scars; some were burns, while others appeared to be from branches or sharp objects, leaving half his face nearly disfigured. Though he had received first aid, the scars were permanent.

What shocked Cain even more was the state of Alec's body. His black clothing was torn and bloodstained; his exposed skin bore bruises in various hues, some showing clear signs of poisoning.

Notably, on his neck were two small puncture wounds that, had they been in a slightly different location, would have been fatal.

That was likely the cause of Alec's hoarse voice.

His entire body was covered in blood, with some freshly healed wounds still oozing thin streams of blood.

The scent of blood that Cain and his Pokémon had picked up undoubtedly came from Alec.

"Who did this to you?" Cain frowned, a growing anger emanating from him.

From Alec's wounds, it was clear his opponent had the ability to kill him but chose instead to torture him mercilessly.

Though Cain had killed many, he always did so as quickly and directly as possible, unless he needed critical information from his target.

Seeing Alec, he guessed that someone had captured him and then chosen to torment him. It was a method Cain despised.

That's why Cain had eliminated people like Paul, that so-called "artist of bodies," who did things Cain found revolting.

Thinking about it, only one name fit.

Vexor.

The name came to Cain's mind.

"Vexor..." Alec murmured weakly but with a voice full of hatred.

Clearly, Alec hated Vexor to his core.

Vexor had gone beyond what Paul had ever done. Paul, in the end, always killed his victims. Vexor, on the other hand, left Alec alive but destroyed all his Pokémon except for Mightyena, doing it right before his eyes.

This left Alec feeling powerless, humiliated, and despairing.

It was no wonder Vexor got along so well with people like Paul.

(End of Chapter)